Landmark Melanoma Trial Reveals Decade-Long Survival Rates with Combination Immunotherapy

A landmark international trial presents data showing nearly half of metastatic melanoma patients treated with nivolumab and ipilimumab live cancer-free for over 10 years. The study, led by Weill Cornell Medicine and Dana-Farber Cancer Centre, concludes with encouraging results for long-term survival and treatment safety.

A landmark international trial has shown that nearly half of metastatic melanoma patients treated with a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors, nivolumab and ipilimumab, live cancer-free for 10 years or more. The research, conducted by Weill Cornell Medicine and Dana-Farber Cancer Centre, was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The decade-long study followed 945 patients across 137 sites in 21 countries, highlighting significant improvements in outcomes for a condition that was once nearly fatal. Previous follow-ups at three, five, and 6.5 years revealed lasting effects for responsive patients.

"This was a practice-changing trial," said Dr. Jedd Wolchok, the study's first author, noting the median survival is now just over six years. The CheckMate 067 trial demonstrated that combining nivolumab with ipilimumab resulted in a more effective treatment than ipilimumab alone, changing the landscape of melanoma treatment.

Dr. F. Stephen Hodi from Dana-Farber emphasized the importance of the trial in patient consultations about the potential benefits of combined immune therapies. According to co-senior author Dr. James Larkin, the 10-year analysis showed no new safety concerns, alleviating fears of long-term treatment-related health issues.

The researchers also found that melanoma-specific survival and overall survival rates diverge over time, suggesting survivors are more likely to die from other causes as they age. "After a decade, we can assure patients of the long-term effectiveness of these treatments," Hodi added.

The data could refine care protocols for metastatic melanoma survivors, potentially reducing the frequency of follow-ups for those who remain cancer-free for several years. Dr. Wolchok highlighted the importance of reorienting patients towards optimism, stressing that half of those treated with the combination therapy could live a decade or more without the threat of metastatic melanoma.

(With inputs from agencies.)